The problem with making your own foods is that you regularly discover new things and you realize you can never go back to the package or prepared version. Salsa, guacamole and hummus from scratch beat any store-bought I’ve tried. Homemade corn and flour tortillas will change your world. And making your own pasta results in something that can barely be described in words.
I’d be lying if I said I no longer use dry pasta, but sitting down to a bowl of it does trigger some feelings of disappointment. The texture, flavor and even the look of homemade pasta is worth getting excited over.
I do shy away from making it from time to time because it feels like too much work, but each and every time I follow through, it’s completely worth it.
Ever since I made Hearty Tomato, Kale and Mushroom Sauce I’ve been meaning to do a pasta post. As you can tell, I’m not a step-by-step blogger. This is mostly because I’m not a step-by-step cook. But it’s also because a step-by-step post requires the perfect marriage of a well lit kitchen with the time to stop and photography each step. I rarely have both.
A few weekends ago, I had daylight in the kitchen and the time so I finally documented my pasta making. I was reminded again how much I love this stuff!
Notice that this is a beginner guide. Very, very beginner. I’m still learning, and at times my noodles can be down right ugly. But they still taste good.
- Be patient. Dough gets stuck, it stretches out. Try, try again.
- If you don’t have an electric pasta attachment, get a helper. I’ve made it with a manual machine by myself before and it’s doable, but tough.
- Most books will tell you to avoid flouring the dough too much because it makes it gummy after cooking. I try to limit it, but still find I need to flour to keep it from sticking to the table and the machine.
- Don’t be a perfectionist. Ugly noodles taste good, too.
- You don’t have to have a pasta dryer. You can lay the pasta out flat to dry. But I like hanging it on a dryer.
Pasta dough is simple. Just about every recipe is flour and egg.
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and knead until it is smooth, about 2 minutes. Cover in a sheet of plastic wrap or a damp towel and let rest for 15 minutes.
Cut the dough into six equal pieces. Roll those pieces into a ball and flattened into an oval. It’s ready for pressing.
Don’t stir the pasta right away to keep from breaking it up. After it has cooked about 2 minutes and it’s almost done, I use tongs to separate it a bit and make sure all of it has been sufficiently dunked in the water. The pasta should be done in 3-4 minutes.
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Lori, this is a great post! Beginner or not, I love seeing how this is done the old-fashioned way. I have some Italian blood running through my veins and I can just imagine my grandmother and great-grandmother making their pasta from scratch. Love it!
I love homemade pasta! Thanks for the great tips.
Noodle making is a tradition in my fiance’s home. A couple years ago, we got a pasta maker for Christmas. We take it out a couple times a year to make the noodle for chicken noodle soup. It’s a lot of work to make pasta when a box of dry pasta is only $1 or so. But nothing beats fresh pasta!
Thank you for this post – I’m ashamed to admit that we have a pasta attachment for our mixer and have not yet made pasta. It is very intimidating, but I imagine the outcome completely makes up for it! Now I know – I can do it! 🙂
Wow, I have been scared to make pasta & you have out me at ease. Your pasta is absolutely beautiful!!
Katie D – Thanks so much! My family never made pasta in the Italian way, but my mother and great grandmother did noodles for chicken and dumplings.
Candy – It’s so good!
Jenn – I agree, you can’t beat it!
Emily – Yes! Get that baby out of the box! 🙂
JulieD – Thanks so much. It can be an awkward process, but it’s really not hard. I hope you’ll try it!
Wow Lori, homemade pasta…it sure look great!
Homemade are simply the best. I love cooking too and I know how satisfying it is to cook good foods and be appreciated. Though as much as I would love to keep on doing it, I simply can’t ever since I moved in to my new apartment. The kitchen is too small and it requires kitchen exhaust cleaning every time I do heavy cooking (like if there’s an occasion).
There’s something about homemade goodies that just make you look at yourself and say, ‘Wow, I did this.” I did this during a first date and I wound up with the love of my life! You definitely reap what you sow!